Bruce County may have to fork out more money to maintain their EMS service.
The Emergency Services department presented their 2009 draft budget at yesterdays Corporate Services meeting for Council to review.
The 2009 budget includes a 3 percent increase from the 7.5 million dollars budgeted in 2008.
But the Countys contribution to the budget would go from 3.7 million to 4 million — an increase of almost 12 percent.
Warden Bill Goetz says there is an agreement in place that would see the Provincial government put in 50 percent of the budget with the County covering the other 50 percent.
But he says he has heard from the Province that their share will go down to around 47 percent this year leaving the County to make up the difference.
Director of EMS Doug Smith says he is hoping to get 4 new supervisors for this year.
He says they would work on a rotation to assist paramedics on the scene.
He says there are a number of incidences where paramedic crews find themselves in a tricky situation and it would be great to have some back up.
Smith says the change in the funding ratio may force his department to reconsider adding the new personnel.
He says these are things that he has been trying to get for years and doesnt want to have to cut them out of the budget.
